Automatic thin-place preventer



Dec. 30, 1930. w. F. CLAYTON AUTOMATIC THIN PLACE PREVENTER Filed Aug. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zlwuentop Dec. 30, 1930. w F, CLAYTON 1,787,359

AUTOMATIC THIN PLACE PREVENTER Filed Aug. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 55% Mar Em tion, the weft fork continues in its normal- Patented Dec. 3O, 1930 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. CLAYTON, OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OE ON E-SIXTH TO WIL- LIAME. JAMES,-;QF CULLMAN, ALABAMA, ONE-SIXTH TO NEPHANUS E. JAMES, OF BIB MINGHAM, ALABAMA, AND ONE-THIRD TO B; E. SMITH, 0F HUNTSVILLE, ALA- Application filed August 2,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in thin place detectors for looms, and has forits principal object the functioning of the weft fork'which normally activates the replenishingmechanism of. the

loom, when through some abnormal condiposition, notwithstanding that the weft thread-has broken or run out.

as the following description of a f Other objects offthe'invention will appear preferred embodiment thereof proceeds. i

7 In the' drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loom in cooperative association with the mechanism of the present invention,

Figure 2 isa'perspective view of the mechanism of the present invention abstracted from what is old and well known in loom mechanism; v Figure 3 is a crosssection showing that part of the invention and the loom mechanism on the side remote from the detector finger;

* Figure 4 is a view'similar to Figure 3, showing the snake head and weft fork disengaged, this being the normal position of the'parts when the loom is weaving;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wef forkv I Figure 6 is a plan view of that part of the thin spot detector 'adjacentthe detector finger; Y

"-Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the detector arm;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the resilient articulation between the detector mechanism rocker arm and the detector mechanism itself; and v Figure 9 is a front view of what is shown in Figure 8, the arm 34 being shown in section,

Before adverting to a detailed'description of the device of the invention, certain conventional loom structures will be referred to, in cooperation with which by way of example, the present invention functions.

In Figures 1 and 4 is shown the oscillating AUTOMATIC THIN-PLACE PREVEN'TER' 192s. seriai No. 297,020.

weft hammer 14 and the weft fork 29 pivotally mounted as at 31 at the rearward end of the slide 20. i

Normally the slide 20 occupies an inactive'position toward/the rearward part of theloom'with the fork resting againstthe weft'thread and being thus retained with its tines 29 in a substantially vertical position,

while the loop- 30 at the upper end of the fork is held above the upperend or snake head27 of the weft hammer. In the normal operation of the loom, when the bobbinv runs outor the weft thread breaks, the fork having its tines no longer restrained by the thread, swings by gravity or perhapsby a light spring so as to depress the loop 30 into the path of the snake head 27, so that the latter, by virtue of its shoulder26, engages the loop 30 and by this means pulls the fork and with it the slide 20, to which it is pivoted.

The slide 20 in moving forwardly operates 'a' bobbin replenishing means, (not shown), through connections and 56, so that the weaving ordinarily proceeds without any thin spot being formed. The slide 20 is, therefore, frequently referred to in the present specification as replenishing mechanism, since it is not considered necessary nor desirable to complicate the disclosure by showing what is old in loom structure.

' It sometimes happens, however, that because of a bent tine, a bunch of lint collecting behind the'weft fork, or for other causes, the fork may remain in its normal position with the loop outof reach of the snake head as though the weft thread were being paid out. Under this conditiomthere would, of

"course, be no attempt made by the machine to replenish the weft, and consequently, a thin spot composed of nothing but warp threads is formed in the goods. It is for the purpose of detecting this thin spot and so controlling the loom accordingly, for the reworking of the thin spot that the present invention is designed. v

The thin spot detector comprises a pawl 28, pivotally mounted on the slide 20 and affording means for moving said slide when said pawl is actuated. Said pawl is adapted to take the place of the loop'30 as an engaging means with the shoulder 26 of the snake head for causing the 'movement of the slide through which the bobbin is replenished.

The pawl 28 is depressed into active position 'by'means responsive directly to the condition of the cloth at the thin spot, and which means also permits the retrograde movement of the cloth fora distancecorresponding to the number of picks missed'in the formation of the thin spot,so that the thin spot'isfilled unifei miv with the rest of the cloth by the weft fromthe fresh bobbin. V I e; v

" Referring particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that there is a rockshaft 33, suitably securedtoa stationary part of thelloom as-forinstance by clips 17, i Saidrock shaft has rocker-arms adjacent its opposite ends,

one of which includes the detectorarm 3 1, the opposite rocker arm 39 passinglfreely through an'eye 22 formed inthe pawl28, so

that in the normal replenishingmovements of the slide 20 under the urge ofth e loop of the weft fork,-.there isfreedom of relative movement-between the pawl and the arm :39."-Normally, :of course, the resilient finger-piece of the detector arm 34 rests upon the "cloth and'maintains the rock vshaft :holds the pawl 28 up in inactive position with 'ceiving respectively,

33 in such position that the rocker. arm 39 respect to the oscillz'rtingv snake head. I

It will be seen from Figures 8 and 9 that the detector arm is connected to the rock shaft 33 by a resilient articulation comprising, the

cooperating members 61 and 62 pivoted together at 661 and each" having a socketrethe detector arm 3 l and V the rock shaft '33, both of said sockets being the cloth upon reaching the thin spot.

Thedetector armconsistsas'usual, of two parts-adjustably secured by means ofa socket 37 and setscrew 38, the socket also serving as an abutment for confining the spring whichgives resiliency to thefinger piece.

A-second rock shaft'l is also provided having a rocker arm 2-at one end, the same constituting a lifter for the detector arm during a certain phase of the operation of the thin spot detector,as will appear.

. For this purpose, the rocker arm '2 is pro- Vided'with an angular end 6 which underlies the detector arm and'isvadapted to engage and lift the latter when the rock shaft 1 is A -operated. The rocker arm 2 normally rests upon the cloth out of engagement with the detector arm, which is normally, supported by the finger 35z'as is well understood.

threads. Y

r The opposite end ofthe' rock's ha'ft 1 is provided with a rocker arm 7, which by means of a link 8, is connected to a lifting means for raising the detector finger out of the cloth" immediately upon its having dropped into a thin spot. This lifting mechanism comprises a slide bar 9 having a notch 12 forming a; shoulder, said notch. cooperating with a latch-17 pivotally' carriedbyithe pawl 28 and supported by-an; angular lug 32 which acts to limit'the range or movement of said latch in a: downward direction.

When the detector finger 35 has fallen into a thin spot it oscillates the rock shaft 33, rocking the rocker arm 39 downward, thereby depressing the pawl 28 into engagement with the shoulder 2am the snake head: This causes the slide to which'the pawl28 is connected, and the pawl itself to'move forwardly, :and since the pawl inibecoming depressed has lowered the latch 17 into the pathof the shoulder 12, it is'i obvious that as the slide 20 and paw-1'28 move forward the latch-17 will cause the forward movement of the slide bar 9,'rocking the arm 7,-oscillatingthe rock shaft 1, and therebyliftingzthei rocker. arm

2' so that the latter engages -,the detector mechanism "and lifts the finger out of the The elevating of the detector mechanism icauses the oscillation oftheshaft33 in the opposite direction, and lifts the pawl .28 out of engagement with thesn'akehead so that it will. be understood that the fallingof the detector finger throughthe-cloth is merely for an instant and that it is immediately and positively lifted, so that. it may not-be entrapped by the newly supplied weft thread. In the meantime, however, the slide has done its duty in supplying; a new bobbin to the loom. V I

Themeans for letting back the: cloth so that the new weft thread can take up the first missed. pick is well understood-and not shown in thepresent drawings, being typical of knownloom mechanism in whicha thin spot detector is employed. f-

It isv sufficient? to state 'thatthis ;means operates responsively tothe activationiof the pawl 28, and the operation of the letsback mechanism permits a retrogressivemovement of the cloth due to the tensioniof the warp Figures 1 and 2 show that the rock shaft 1 is provided with pivotally mounted supporting pallets 51 and 52, carried by blocks 53 and 54 the first mentio'nedibeing slidably adjustable on a rocker arm 3, "while the blolck 54 is adjustable in a similar manner, preferably on the rockerarm 2,

It will be understood that when the lifting means constituted by the latch 17 and slide bar 9. is actuated, the detector mechanisni'is supported solely by the rocker 2,

trailing against the sur- 17 I and that the rocker arm 2 is no lon er 1 h sustained by said lifting means. However, the retrogressive movement of the cloth has been'taking place in the meantime, so that the pallets 52 which, in the initial lifting movementv have not been burdened with the load of thedetector mechanism or its appurtenant elements are moved to a substantially perpendicular position, through their 'Lfrictional engagement to the cloth so that now they becomethe sole sustaining means for the rocker arm 2, and'finally, when the missed picks have been filled and the cloth changes its direction of movement, the pallets 51 and 52 are drawn out into an inclined position in which they release their support of the detector mechanism letting the detector finger down on the newly woven cloth.

It thus appears that while a lifting means is sudden and instantaneous, the lowering of the detector finger is done gradually and by stages to allow time for the thin spot to be filled.

In this connection, it should be noted that there is preferably, lost motion between the rocker arm 2 and the rock shaft 1, constituted through the fact that the sleeve 59 is loose upon the shaft 1 and provided with a suitable extension 58 forming a stop for engagement with a pin 80 or other suitable means appropriately fixed to the rock shaft 1 so as to permit certain arcuate play between the sleeve and the pin.

Incidentally, the set screw 4 merely plays in a groove, not shown formed in the rock shaft 1 and prevents the sleeve sliding to the leftward as viewed in Figure 2, so that the lifting means 9 and 17 are applied a moment before the lifting of the detector mechanism actually takes place, this interval being allowed to ensure time for the actuation of the bobbin replenishing mechanism.

Since the thin spot detector is designed as an attachment to looms of types now existent a certain tolerance is provided in the 3 range of movement of the latch 17 relative to the slide bar. The latch is constructed to descend as far as is ever necessary in order to engage the shoulder on the slide bar. If, however, the slide bar should be mounted at a less distance from the latch, the pivotal connection between the latch and the pawl 28 permits the latch to come to a stop when it will, regardless of the further depression of the pawl 28.

While I have in the above description defined what I believe a practical and preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the details of construction as illustrated and described are merely by way of example, and not to be considered as having a limitative bearing upon the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. In loom mechanism, a detector finger in combination with bobbin replenishing mechanism, means operable responsively to the detection of a thin spot by said detecting finger for actuating said bobbin replenishing mechanism, lifting means for said detecting finger, an operating connection responsive to the actuation of said replenishing mechanism for actuating said lifting means to lift said detecting finger out of the thin spot, said operating connection being severed by the lifting ofsaid detector finger, and means operatively positioned by the retrogressive movement of the cloth for assuming the support of said detector finger when said supporting function is relinquished by the means which is responsive to the actuation of the bobbin replenishing mechanism.

2. In loom mechanism, a detector finger in combination with bobbin replenishing mechanism, means operable responsively to the detection of a thin spot by said detecting finger for actuating said bobbin replenishing mechanism, lifting means for said detecting finger, an operating connection responsive to the actuation of said replenishing mech anlsm for actuating said lifting means to lift said detecting finger out of the thin spot, said operating connection being severed by the lifting of said detector finger, and means operatively positioned by the retrogressive movement of the cloth for assuming the support of said detector finger when said supporting function is relinquished by the means which is responsive to the actuation of the bobbin replenishing mechanism, said cloth movement responsive supporting means being constructed to withdraw its supporting function from said detector finger, when the latter element is again over the wholly woven cloth.

3. In loom mechanism, a detector finger in connection with bobbin replenishing mechanism, means operable responsively to the detection of a thin spot by said detecting finger for actuating said bobbin'replenishing mechanism, said means including a rock shaft having rocker arms adjacent its opposite ends, one of said rocker arms including said detector finger, apawl operatively associated with said bobbin replenishing mechanism, said pawl being engaged by the opposite rocker. arm for depressing said pawl, and means" i operable responsive to the actuation-of said bobbin replenishing mechanism for lifting said detecting finger out of the thin spot, said means comprising a latching element operatively connected to said replenishing mecha nism, and a second rock shaft, rocker arms adjacent theends of said second rock shaft,-

one rocker arm underlying the rocker, arm which includes sa d detector, finger, for lifting the same, and asecond latching element ope'ratively connectedto theopposite rocker 1 arm on said second rock shaft to be engaged by said'firstlatching element for rocklng said second; mentioned rock shaft, said underlying rocker arm having a lost motion connecti.o1r with said second mentioned rock shaft. 7 v Y g p p 4. In loom mechanism, a detector finger n connection w th bobbln replenishlng mechanism, means operable responsively'to the detection of a thin spot by said detecting finger for actuating said bobbinvreplenishing mechan1sm,'sa1d means including a rock shaft shaving rocker arms adjacent its opposite ends,'one of said rocker arms includingsaid detector finger, apawl operatlvely assoclated awith said bobbin replenishing mechanism, osaidpawlbeing engaged by the opposite one rockerarm underlying the rocker arm which includes said detectorjfinger, for lifting the same, and a second latching'element operatively .con'nectedito the opposite rocker arm on said second rock shaft to be engaged by said first latching element for rocking-said second mentioned rock shaft, and a pallet carried bysaid second mentioned'rock shaft frictionally engageable with the woven cloth and beingpositioned according to the movement of said cloth for assuming the support of the underlying rocker arm and detector finger when the supporting function has been relinquished by the disengagement of the said latch elements, said pallet moving to a position in which it relinquishes said supporting function altogether, when said cloth again.

moves in normal direction permitting said detectorfinger to rest upon said cloth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WVILLIAM CLAYTON)" rocker arm for depressing said pawl, and

' means operable responsive tothe actuation of said bobbin replenishing mechanism for lifting said detectingfingerout ofthe thin. spot, sald means comprising a latching element.

operatively connected to said replenishing mechanism, and a second rock shaft, rocker arms adjacent the ends of said second rock shaft, one rocker arm underlying the rocker arm which includes said detector finger,'for

"lifting the same, and a second latching element operatively connected to the opposite rocker arm on said second rock shaft to be engaged by said first latching element for rocking said second mentioned rock shaft,

and a pallet carried by said second mentioned I rock shaft frictionally engageable with the woven cloth and beingpositioned' according to the movement of said cloth for assuming the support of the underlying rocker arm and detector finger when the supporting function has been relinquished by the disengagement of the said latch elements.

5.- In loom mechanism, a detector finger in connection with bobbin replenishing mechanism, means operable responsively to the detection of a thin spot by said detecting finger for actuating said bobbin replenishing mechanism,said meansincluding a rock'shaft hav- 7 ing rocker arms adjacent its opposite ends, one'of saidrocker arms including said detector finger, a pawl operatively associated with said bobbin replenishing mechanism, said pawl being engaged by the opposite rocker j arm for depressing said pawl, and means operable responsive to the actuation of said bobbin replenishing mechanism for lifting said detecting finger out of the thin spot, said means comprisinga latching element operatively connected to said replenishing mechanism, and a second rock shaft,rocker arms, adjacent the ends of said second rock shaft, 

